As the Lenten season approaches, the Department of Tourism (DoT) expects 30 million foreign and domestic tourists to travel across the archipelago to visit the country’s attractions.

To manage peak volumes and ensure a smooth flow of travelers, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the DoT has activated its regional operations centers to monitor and coordinate activities in high-traffic tourism areas.

Frasco urged tourists to book only DoT-accredited tourism establishments to avoid travel scams and ensure safety, quality, and a standardized experience.

"Overall, we are delighted to note that Filipinos are actively traveling within the country, and our international tourists are enjoying experiential, meaningful, and enriching experiences. These accredited establishments have undergone a thorough accreditation process, ensuring that visitors receive truly high-quality experiences," Frasco said in a media interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday.

Top Holy Week destinations, based on last year’s DoT records, include Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Siargao, Baguio, Batangas, Ilocos Norte and Sur, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Puerto Galera.

Emerging destinations such as Camiguin, Siquijor, and Cagayan de Oro are also gaining traction, while tourist arrivals in Mindanao — particularly in Davao and Sarangani — continue to grow.

In Manila, Intramuros remains one of the capital’s most visited heritage and faith tourism sites, projected to welcome 2.4 million visitors this season, up from 2.2 million in 2023. The growth is driven by cultural attractions and Holy Week traditions such as Visita Iglesia.

For tourism concerns, Secretary Frasco highlighted the 24/7 operations of the DOT Tourist Assistance Call Center (TACC), which can be reached through hotline 151-TOUR (151-8687), mobile number 0954-253-3215, email at tourismassistance@tourism.gov.ph, or via Facebook Messenger at Department of Tourism – Philippines.

The TACC, which now offers multilingual support including Korean and Mandarin, has already handled over 14,000 inquiries from 72 countries.

“I also just want to remind tourists that our Tourist Assistance Call Center, +151-TOUR, will remain open to receive queries or requests for assistance anywhere across the country. And we have already launched a Korean-speaking call center agent. And very recently, we have also already launched Mandarin-speaking call center agents. So, we've catered to over 14,000 calls already from 72 countries,” Frasco added.